Facebook Plunges Again
Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Bono warns the world against rampant piracy
I don't know if this kind of thing happens over in the UK (probably in the London Times, if anything), but it seems the New York Times has given Bono of U2 fame a one-off guest column in their paper. In it he has a bit of a mindless rant above the next ten years: cars, pollution, sports and then, out of frickin' no where: PIRACY. Citing, of all things, China's ability to quash online dissent, he claims it must be possible to curb online piracy.Bono, one of the most influential people in the world, has just dumped music piracy in the same kind of list that includes global climate change, religion and AIDS. "A decade's worth of music file-sharing and swiping has made clear that the people it hurts are the creators," Bono says, claiming that Internet service providers are the ones coming away with the fat profits, not the music labels or the artists themselves. The thing is, he doesn't give any figures. Bono never gives any figures: he's simply against piracy. He's using the soap box that he's rightfully earnt through very good behaviour to attack music piracy. What an ape.
He claims that the only thing 'protecting' the film and television industries at the moment is the relative size of the files. How about the fact that people actually want to pay for DVDs because TV shows and movies aren't shit like most contemporary music? He's obviously never heard of iTunes or Hulu or any other successful digital-download or on-demand provider. Just go back to cranking out the repetitive, anthemic 'rock', grandad.
Comments
40
Subscribe to commentsfikhlJan 4th 2010 2:00PM
Bo-who?!
gunghultJan 4th 2010 2:13PM
This coming from a man who hides most of his money in bank accounts across europe.
Hellenist434Jan 8th 2010 2:05AM
You know I can understand that people illegally download music, but can people please have some f-ing humble pie while doing it?
It's simple, just say "I'm stealing it, I know I'm stealing but I don't want to pay the 99cents to buy it, I'm sorry."
That would be honest but no, instead people make all sorts of justifications "Oh the record companies deserve it" "They screwed me with that 25 dollar CD I bought so it evens out" "The artist still makes his money".
It proabably won't make the record companies or Bonocat feel better but it would make the internet a less douchey place. The nerve of people to not only steal but have an attitude about it....
The level of entitlement on the internet really sickens me.
Sebastian AnthonyJan 4th 2010 6:26PM
Well said, matey. I actually agree entirely :)
techpopsJan 4th 2010 3:27PM
Kicking off the new year with an edgy rant, I like it. Watch out Molly wood, Sebastian is in town!
I'm having T-Shirts made up that say "Just say NO to BoNO"
Sebastian AnthonyJan 4th 2010 6:26PM
I think 'Just say BoNO' would probably be a little more punchy... but hey, I'd buy the t-shirt either way :)
cookiebitsJan 4th 2010 7:04PM
Bah, whatever… I wouldn't even bother pirating U2 music.
AustenJan 4th 2010 8:36PM
Bono makes a valid point, and more than anyone, he should know how much artists are making now. Sure, he has loads of money. But do you know how much he gives away to charity? He almost broke up the band years ago in favor of focusing on philanthropic efforts.
Honestly, I think you're letting your opinion about U2's music affect your judgement on Bono's take on issues of the coming decade. Just because music piracy and AIDs happen to be on the same list doesn't make it any less relevant in it's own way. Music piracy is a big problem, in its own small way it undermining the basis of our capitalist system. People are getting used to the idea that music should be free, and that's not a good thing.
I mean, come on, we're on a blog dedicated to talking about computer and web software. If you think AIDs is so important why aren't you doing something about it (like Bono is) and instead trashing on something you don't even know about.
Sebastian AnthonyJan 4th 2010 9:39PM
It's AIDS -- S is part of the acronym (Syndrome).
I don't like U2's music (it's dull), but this is more about someone sticking their nose where it shouldn't be.
From his choice of words, we can only assume that he's a little ignorant on the matter. That's fine, he's allowed to have an opinion... but when you're as influential as Bono, you should be careful about what you say... because it might stick!
I don't know how piracy undermines capitalism. It's a free-market economy, right? It's well known that if something is good enough, and it's the right price, people will pay for it. If it's not good enough, people will vote with their dollars and go elsewhere or buy another album.
AustenJan 5th 2010 12:42AM
Yes, that's how capitalism works. But I disagree that all people will pay for music. That's not what today's kids and teens are learning - they're getting a completely distorted idea about where music comes from and what it is worth. That is not how a capitalist society should function, where people think music is worth nothing when in reality it costs a lot of money to produce.
I think, if anyone, Bono has a right to stick his nose where he wants it. He made a lot of money and, yes he lives lavishly with it (wouldn't you?), but then he is one of the world's most prominent philanthropists. As someone who contributes so much to the world (as opposed to unnecessarily hogging his money), I think he has a fair right to have a New York Times editorial.
But my main problem with the article isn't your opinion on music piracy, but how your main criticism is Bono comparing music piracy to other global issues. So what if he does? They all affect the world in one way or another. It doesn't make him an "ape."
Sebastian AnthonyJan 5th 2010 10:57AM
OK, point taken!
I'm amazed the 'ape' line was kept... usually someone edits that kind of thing without telling me :P
enerGIJan 4th 2010 9:07PM
Bono needs to chill and have a few frothies down at his local pub.
rollinginsanityJan 4th 2010 11:00PM
Right, and China's gestapo like net monitoring is a good thing?
muJan 4th 2010 10:14PM
I download pirated stuff, but only if it's impossible for me to buy it anyway in the first place. So, I'll pay for what I like and really need, not what i might see or use.
For example, I would never pay for a movie that i didn't see and like, but I'll download a pirated copy, and if i liked it, then I can pay for the original.
Another example, I would never buy a 1000 dollar software, especially if I'm using it once every six months, but if i needed it and found it more suitable than the free alternative, I will download a pirated copy, then I might uninstall it the next day.
darwinsurvivorJan 5th 2010 3:48AM
Hmm, lets do the math.
Bono:
- probably has more content pirated than the entire MPAA
- makes UNBELIEVABLE amounts of money
- complains that piracy hurts artists
- ???
- profit (again)
laeroJan 5th 2010 7:10AM
Wait what? Are people still downloading when you can get 320 kbp/s streams for like, 10 bucks a month? This world, I don't get it...
techpopsJan 5th 2010 10:54AM
@Austen Many years ago the music industry was up in arms about how radio would kill the business and then how the tape recorder would kill it and guess what happened? Music sales went up.
Don't believe the company line that having easy access to free music brings about the end of the business. The biggest factor by far for the change in profits labels are getting from music was the dinosaur like attitude they had to accepting it was going online, whether they liked it or not. Not having a business model ready to take advantage of digital sales was the biggest blunder.
If you look at an artist like Jonathan Coulton, now there is a musician who worked out he didn't need a big label, believed in the idea that if you make great music, put it out online, a fanbase will rally round you and support you. You can easily pirate anything Jonathan has put out or buy it, but Despite the "kids not wanting to pay anything" he continues to grow his business and has had much success. This is the new model that Bono has no clue about.
Bono is a cash cow for his record label, and admitting he's made so much money he's able to give it away, is more a reflection on how twisted and corrupt the old music industry is, rather than any statement of his worth as a person. I hear Al Capone was a bit of a philanthropist too, I guess that makes him a top guy as well.
Sebastian AnthonyJan 5th 2010 11:11AM
Bonus points for likening Bono to Al Capone. I don't think I'd get away with that...
SteveJan 6th 2010 3:11AM
Difficult to understand why anyone whould listen to Bono. The man is a twerp.
CarneyJan 7th 2010 12:47PM
It's real easy for people to talk themselves into rationalizations for cheating, lying, and stealing. Just look at some of these comments.